ROUTE 22 WEST REOPENED AROUND 8:30 THIS MORNING AFTER BEING CLOSED DUE TO A FATAL THREE CAR ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN FULLERTON AVENUE AND MacARTHUR ROAD. STATE POLICE SAY THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 2:30 THIS MORNING AND 22 WEST WAS CLOSED AT FULLERTON AVENUE. THE IDENTITY OF THE VICTIM HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.
A FORMER MUSIC SCHOOL OWNER HAS ADMITTED TO ASKING AN UNDERCOVER AGENT POSING AS A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOR NUDE PHOTOS. 45-YEAR-OLD ALAN STROPPA ASKED WHO HE BELIEVED TO BE THE GIRL FOR NUDE PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF HERSELF AND AFTER THE AGENT SAID SHE WASN'T ABLE TO E-MAIL THEM TO HIM, STROPPA TOLD HER TO MAIL THEM TO HIS A. STARR MUSIC SCHOOL IN NORTHAMPTON. AT THAT POINT, STROPPA WAS ARRESTED. HE'LL BE SENTENCED IN FEBRUARY.
FRONTIER AIRLINES WILL DISCONTINUE ITS NONSTOP SERVICE BETWEEN LEHIGH VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND ORLANDO ON APRIL 7. FRONTIER'S DEPARTURE WILL LEAVE LVIA WITH FOUR CARRIERS THAT FLY OUT OF THE AIRPORT AND ONLY ALLEGIANT AIRLINES FLYING TO ORLANDO. THE AIRPORT SAYS IT WILL WORK TO REPLACE FRONTIER.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY COUNCIL HAS VOTED DOWN THE IDEA TO GIVE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT A PAY RAISE IN TWO YEARS. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CURRENTLY MAKES $85,000 AND WILL KEEP EARNING THAT AFTER COUNCIL VOTED 7-2 AGAINST GIVING THE EXECUTIVE A $10,000 RAISE IN 2014. COUNCILMAN KEN KRAFT PUSHED THE IDEA OF GIVING THE EXECUTIVE A RAISE AFTER A STUDY DETERMINED 37 COUNTY WORKERS MAKE MORE THAN THE EXECUTIVE'S SALARY. THE SAME VOTE NIXED THE IDEA OF GIVING COUNCIL PRESIDENT A $300 RAISE IN TWO YEARS.
BUCKEYE ROAD IN UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP MAY REMAIN CLOSED ANOTHER WEEK AFTER A SUNDAY NIGHT CRASH THAT KILLED A MAN AND SPILLED ABOUT 2500 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WANTS TO REMOVE ALL FUEL-TAINTED SOIL BEFORE THE ROAD IS REOPENED. 61-YEAR-OLD JAMES HELLER, OF MACUNGIE, WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH WHEN HIS VEHICLE STRUCK THE TANKER TRUCK AS IT WAS TURNING ONTO BUCKEYE ROAD. THE FUEL SPILL SPANNED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET.
A BETHLEHEM TRADITION IS BACK. "CHRISTKINDLMARKT IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS THIS YEAR. WE HAVE MORE THAN 125 VENDORS WHO WILL BE AT THE EVENT EACH WEEKEND AND MORE THAN 200 IN ALL. THAT'S THE MOST VENDORS WE'VE EVER HAD," SAYS ARTSQUEST'S MARK DEMKO. EXECEPT FOR THANKSGIVING DAY, THE CHRISTMAS MARKET WILL BE OPEN EVERY THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY UNTIL DECEMBER 23. CHRISTKINDLMARKT EXPECTS TO WELCOME ITS ONE MILLIONTH VISITOR NEXT MONTH.
THE UNION REPRESENTING FACULTY AND COACHES AT PENNSYLVANIA'S 14 STATE-OWNED UNIVERSITIES IS SET TO BEGIN COUNTING BALLOTS FOR A STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE AMID A CONTRACT DISPUTE THAT COULD AFFECT ABOUT 120,000 STUDENTS. THE ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FACULTIES IS SCHEDULED TODAY TO BEGIN TALLYING VOTES CASE AT CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE EARLIER THIS WEEK. IF PASSED, THE VOTE EMPOWERS UNION CHAPTER PRESIDENTS AT EACH PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION CAMPUS TO CALL A STRIKE. TEN OF THE 14 MUST APPROVE A WALKOUT. THE TWO SIDES DISAGREE ON ISSUES INCLUDING COMPENSATION FOR TEMPORARY INSTRUCTORS, HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND INCENTIVE PAY FOR ONLINE EDUCATION. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FACULTY STRIKE IN THE STATE SYSTEM. ANOTHER NEGOTIATING SESSION IS SET FOR DECEMBER 11.
TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR GOV. TOM CORBETT TO TELL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHETHER PENNSYLVANIA WILL BE SETTING UP A HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET UNDER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE LAW. CORBETT ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THAT THEY'VE PUT OFF DEVELOPMENT OF THE ONLINE EXCHANGE BECAUSE TOO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS COST AND OTHER OPERATIONAL DETAILS REMAIN UNANSWERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE NEW INSURANCE EXCHANGES WILL ALLOW HOUSEHOLDS AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO BUY A PRIVATE HEALTH PLAN, AND MANY WILL GET HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY THEIR PREMIUMS. UNDER THE LAW, STATES THAT CAN'T OR WON'T SET UP EXCHANGES WILL HAVE THEIRS RUN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT STATES CONSIDERING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RUN THEIR EXCHANGES HAVE UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY TO MAKE A DECISION.
LAWYERS FOR PENN STATE AND A KEY WITNESS IN JERRY SANDUSKY'S CRIMINAL TRIAL ARE HEADING TO COURT OVER THE UNIVERSITY'S REQUEST TO PUT THE MAN'S LAWSUIT ON HOLD. THE HEARING BEFORE JUDGE THOMAS GAVIN IN BELLEFONTE TODAY PERTAINS TO MIKE MCQUEARY'S WHISTLEBLOWER AND DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SCHOOL THAT ONCE EMPLOYED HIM. PENN STATE WANTS THE CASE TO BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER JANUARY, WHEN TWO FORMER UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS ARE SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL ON CHARGES OF PERJURY AND FAILURE TO PROPERLY REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE. MCQUEARY TESTIFIED THIS SUMMER HE SAW SANDUSKY ATTACK A BOY INSIDE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SHOWERS IN EARLY 2001. HE AND SANDUSKY SERVED TOGETHER ON THE FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF. SANDUSKY IS IN STATE PRISON FOR 45 COUNTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE INVOLVING 10 BOYS.
PENN STATE TRUSTEES ARE SET TO FORMALLY BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW PRESIDENT AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF RENEWED SCRUTINY OF UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE IN LIGHT OF THE JERRY SANDUSKY CHILD SEX-ABUSE SCANDAL. TRUSTEES ARE SCHEDULED FRIDAY TO WRAP UP TWO DAYS OF REGULARLY-SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH A FULL ASSEMBLY OF THE BOARD. A VOTE TO OFFICIALLY APPROVE THE SEARCH FOR PRESIDENT RODNEY ERICKSON'S REPLACEMENT IS ON THE AGENDA. ERICKSON TOOK OVER THE POST A YEAR AGO TO REPLACE GRAHAM SPANIER, WHO DEPARTED UNDER PRESSURE THE SAME DAY HALL OF FAME COACH JOE PATERNO WAS OUSTED IN THE FALLOUT FROM THE SWEEPING SCANDAL. ERICKSON HAS SAID HE INTENDS TO RETIRE WHEN HIS CONTRACT EXPIRES IN JUNE 2014. THE HOPE IS TO SETTLE ON ERICKSON'S REPLACEMENT BY NEXT NOVEMBER.
IT'S A BIG WEEKEND FOR THE ALLENTOWN RESCUE MISSION. "WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE WALMARTS AND GIANT FOOD STORES TODAY AND TOMORROW COLLECTING FOOD AND SUPPLIES. IT'S A LOT OF FUN. COME ON OUT, PICK UP ONE ITEM OR A BAG FULL. WE COULD REALLY USE THE HELP," SAYS THE MISSION'S GARY MILLSPAUGH. HE SAYS THEY'VE SET A GOAL OF GATHERING 40,000 POUNDS OF FOOD, CLEANING SUPPLIES AND PAPER PRODUCTS. MILLSPAUGH SAYS THE ANNUAL DRIVE IS CRUCIAL TO GET THE MISSION THROUGH THE UPCOMING WINTER.
